UPpyDate on the update: Sam and his teeth

Poor Sam is having teeth issues again. His whole lower jaw is swollen. I've suspected as much for days, but he is difficult to examine. I had to lay on him to squirt some ClindaCure on his gums. He is still eating, mainly fish broth, but that is a good sign. He's in pain, ut the infection must not be too bad. He usually has a bad reaction to infections.

I'm trying to work with a local group to get some funds and reduced prices on fixing his teeth.

It might not hurt to start an application with IMOM. They require you apply for credit care. If you're turned down, part of the application would be the letter denying you. IMOM will help raise funds before treatment begins -- not for existing vet bills. So, if it turns out that Sam needs more treatment, the gofundme $$ could pay for the diagnostics and IMOM might be able to help with any additional treatments.

Also, IMOM has been in business over 15 years. They may have a vet close to you who will give you a discount. It's always tricky -- when you like your vet -- but another vet might have a different take on things.

Good luck Sam!

Ask your vet about microchipping. ~ It could have saved Kuhio's life. And it cost Halo hers.Ask your vet about Polycystic kidney disease ~~ Rest in peace WillyLoved by Lisa

Bless you. He may get that x-ray after all. The doc that saw him today said it's a tumor and probably bone cancer because the swelling was so firm.

Depressing. The last time I heard this it turned out to be a broken tooth lodged in the jaw. Easy fix, but a little expensive. Teeth and gum issues are the only health issues Sam has.

When the vet was describing the probably results of surgery, I was thinking it would be kinder to put him to sleep. Hope prevailed, and I brought him home.

Community Pet Project paid today's visit. He got a rabies shot (required), a Convenia shot for infection, and a steroid shot for swelling. With some warm compresses, hopefully he will feel better. Perhaps the swelling will resolve to the point that the cause is obvious.

I am going through something similar with my guy Oliver (he has cancer in his mouth). So all I can say is please do not give up hope...

I know that when I read about the treatment options of Oliver's type and location of cancer, the outcomes were pretty grim. But I went forward with the recommended surgery, not holding out much hope. The margins of the tissue and the lymph nodes came back clear of cancer. So I decided to go forward with additional treatment. If they had not come back clean I think I would have considered putting him to sleep.

Right now please just take care of yourself and him. Enjoy your Christmas together and leave the rest up prayer

For Oliver's surgery they had to remove the right upper molar section of his jaw. They did rebuild his face so once his fur grows back you won't be able to see it. They had originally put in a feeding tube but it turns out that we never needed it. The first few days I watered down his wet food but he ate just fine. Now he eats almost exclusively wet food with a little bit of Blue dry food. The Blue brand kibble is so small that he doesn't actually need to chew it to swallow it.

So don't worry about the feeding tube (if it comes to that). You have a long way to go before having to deal with that and hopefully you won't have to.